そばから

1. 1No sooner is X done than something undoes or negates it, usually repeatedly and to the speaker's frustration.Ex. 2
2. 2Y follows X immediately, as fast as X is done, which can be a welcome result, as in 焼くそばから売れる.

Typically used for recurring situations, such as complaints about children, forgetfulness or endless chores, where an effort is immediately wasted. It also describes things happening as fast as they are produced, such as goods selling as soon as they are made. It appears in both writing and conversation.

• なりN1「なり」 attaches only to the dictionary form, is literary, and typically describes a third person's unexpected action occurring right after doing something. It does not require repetition and carries no sense of wasted effort, whereas 「そばから」 requires a repeated situation, so the two are generally not interchangeable.
• や否やN1「や否や」 is mostly used to state facts that have already happened, emphasizing an extremely short interval, with no nuance of repetition or wasted effort. It attaches only to the verb dictionary form and is strongly literary. For a one-time 'no sooner... than...' situation, use 「や否や」 or similar, not 「そばから」.
• が早いかN1「が早いか」 highlights how the two actions happen so fast they almost overtake each other, often surprisingly; it does not require repetition and has no sense of wasted effort. It is written language, common in novel narration, and can be used for one-time events, unlike 「そばから」.
• かと思ったら / かと思うとN2「かと思ったら」 focuses on contrast and surprise between what happens before and after, works for one-time events, usually has another person or thing as the subject, and can also mean 'I thought... but...'. 「そばから」, by contrast, emphasizes the same thing happening repeatedly and efforts coming to nothing.
• たとたんN3「たとたん」 stresses that the two events occur almost simultaneously, with the second clause often carrying a sudden or unexpected feeling, and it attaches only to the た form. 「そばから」 emphasizes the same situation recurring and efforts being undone, and can also attach to the dictionary form; for one-time events, use 「たとたん」 or similar.
• たびにN3「たびに」 simply means 'every time... ', without emphasizing immediacy; the second clause can be a feeling or habit and is not limited to negative content. It can attach to 「noun + の」 but not to the た form. 「そばから」 stresses that something is undone as soon as it's done—effort wasted—and often carries dissatisfaction.

なり, や否や, が早いか and たとたん usually describe one instance of B immediately following A, and かと思ったら / かと思うと stresses a surprising or unexpected change. そばから typically highlights a recurring cycle in which B follows right on the heels of A, often cancelling it, whereas たびに means 'every time' without implying that B follows immediately.